Lnvein-rafl



(No Model.) I 2 sheets-Sheet 1.

R. M. SMITH.

COMBINED INKING PAD AND REGISTER. No. 302,953. Patented Aug. 5,1884.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

R. M. SMITH.

COMBINED INKING PAD AND REGISTER.

No. 302.953 Patented Aug. 5, 1884.

wL/yiy Kjww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MANSON SMITH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

COMBINED lNKlNG-P AD AND REGISTER.

5%PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 302,953, dated August 5, 1884.

Application filed November 19, 1883.

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, R. MANSON SMITH, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented an Improved Combined Inking-Pad and Register, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the number of letters passing through a post-office is accurately recorded or registered; and it consists in combining with a movable inking-pad, such as is used in con nection with an ordinary canceling or dating stamp, a registering device the moving mechanism of which is actuated in the inking operation, as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereoffFigures I and II are respectively a side and a top view of a combined movable inking-pad and a registering device.

Fig. III illustrates a modification in the construction of the apparatus.

Fig. IV is aview of a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. III.

A is an inking-pad, which may be of any approved construction, which is shown in Figs. I and II. as mounted on the short arm a of the lever B, which has its fulcrum at b. The long arm 0 of the lever B is attached to the arm 0 of I the registering device D. The register is of the kind used in connection with various machines to record the number of their movements, and needs no description herein.

E is a spring to hold the pad A yieldingly in an elevated position, and F a stop to limit the depression of the pad.

The operation of the invention as illustrated in Figs. I and II is as follows: The letters to be canceled and stamped are placed near to the pad A, and an ordinary stamp, which is inked before its application to each letter, is

(No model.)

employed. Every inking operation moves the registering device one unit, as will be readily understood. As the stamp is invariably inked before each canceling operation, an accurate record of the number of letters stamped is found by referring to the numerals of the register.

In Figs. III and IV the inking-pad is attached to a springlever, and the spindle of the register revolved intermittingly by a weight and cord, the latter running over a pulley and connected to a sheave on the spindle of the register. The register is provided with escapement devices having an armature as a part thereof. This armature is in close proximity to an electro-magnet, and the poles of the wires terminate between the pad and the table. As the pad is depressed in the inking operation, an electric circuit is formed and the armature drawn in contact with the magnet, which actuates the escapement and allows the spindle of the register to revolve a distance equal to the space between two teeth of the escapement-wheel, and the register is moved one unit. If desired, the spindle of the register may be revolved by a spring, as in ordinary clock-work.

I claim- The combination of a vertically-moving ink ing-pad, yielding mechanism to sustain the pad in an elevated position, a registering device, and means to connect the pad with the register, whereby in the depression of the pad the register is put in operation, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

It. MANSON SMITH.

Witnesses:

GHAs. B. OAssAnY, DANL. FISHER. 

